Haldwani Double Murder: Four Suspects Arrested After Gruesome Discovery
In a shocking and brutal crime that has sent shockwaves through the community, the bodies of a young man and woman were discovered in Haldwani's Naveen Mandi area on Thursday morning. The victims, identified as 25-year-old Shubham Tamta and 19-year-old Laxmi, were found with severe head and facial injuries at a godown on Bareilly Road in Galla Mandi.
Gruesome Details of the Crime Scene
Police officials reported that the victims' heads and faces had been crushed with large stones, making visual identification initially impossible. The severity of the injuries was such that authorities had to rely on identity cards recovered from the scene to establish the identities of the deceased.
Shubham Tamta, a resident of Almora, worked as a supervisor at a rehabilitation centre in Haldwani. Laxmi, originally from Khansyu under Mukteshwar police station, was a second-year student who lived in rented accommodation in Haldwani. Preliminary investigations suggest the two had attended a party together on Wednesday night before their tragic deaths.
Police Investigation and Forensic Analysis
Senior police officials, including the city superintendent of police, immediately rushed to the crime scene to oversee the investigation. Nainital SSP Manjunath TC confirmed that a forensic team was deployed to collect crucial evidence from the location.
The investigation focused heavily on technical surveillance and CCTV analysis. Police examined footage from cameras installed in and around the mandi premises, including the specific godown where the bodies were discovered. The crime scene was promptly sealed, evidence was carefully marked, and a dog squad was pressed into service to aid the investigation.
Arrests Made and Legal Proceedings
Based on technical surveillance and CCTV analysis, police identified several suspects who were subsequently questioned. Later in the evening, four individuals were arrested in connection with the double murder.
The arrested suspects have been identified as:
- Gaurav Negi (25) of Vasundhara Colony
- Saurabh Bhatt (20) of Teenpani Khanna Farm
- Deepu Sharma (20) of Vasundhara Colony
- Deepesh Latwal (25) of Uttaranchal Vihar
All four are residents of Haldwani. The arrests followed the registration of an FIR at Kotwali Haldwani police station under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The complaint was lodged by Suresh Chandra Pokharia, a relative of the deceased woman.
Ongoing Investigation and Post-Mortem
The bodies of both victims have been sent for post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause and time of death. Police continue to investigate the motive behind this brutal crime and whether there were any prior connections between the victims and the arrested suspects.
SSP Manjunath emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and more details will emerge as forensic reports and additional evidence are analyzed. The case has highlighted concerns about safety in the area and prompted calls for increased police vigilance.
